It is common knowledge amongst serious anglers that the best time to catch fish is in the early morning hours. This is especially true during the warmer months of the year, as the fish will be much more active during the mornings. So what should you prepare for when heading out this early to go fishing? Regardless if you are after trout, bass, or other species, here are a few tips and tricks to help you catch the most!
Find the Best Locations Beforehand
Fishing in the morning often involves leaving your house very early, even in the dark. You then must remember to properly pack and bring all of the gear you will need, and hurry to get to your fishing location before it is too late in the day. A good way to make this process a whole lot smoother is to have a specific location picked out well in advance.
This will make getting up early and leaving for your favorite fishing hole a lot easier and gives you one less thing to worry about. Whether it is a spot that you have fished at for years or a brand new one that you scouted out on Google Earth the night before, just have a general idea of where you will be headed in the morning.
Bring A Lot of Lures and Baits
Fishing at first light can lead to catching some fish that are not picky eaters, but you still need to figure out what the fish are biting on in order to be the most effective. This can be done by bringing along a good variety of different baits or lures to test out. If you are not getting any hits with what you are using after a while, don’t be afraid of changing it up!
On the flip side, if you find something that the fish are consistently biting on, keep using it. Often if you can catch one fish with something, there is a good chance that you can use it to catch other fish. Change areas if the fishing slows down, but keep the same bait or lure if it has brought you success. Finding what works best first thing in the morning can lead to a very productive fishing trip throughout the rest of the day.
Use Natural Colors and Move Silently
Fish love to hunt during the early mornings because the absence of light makes it harder for their prey to see them. This also means that they tend to pay closer attention to their surroundings. To better fool them, use natural colors for your baits or lures and be as stealthy as possible when fishing or moving to different fishing points. Larger fish will key in on your lure if something is not right more so in the mornings than during other parts of the day.
It is also a lot quieter during the mornings, which is a good thing but it means that any unnatural sounds will carry further. Be as quiet and stealthy as you can while fishing, moving slow and being wary of where you think the fish are. You do not want to scare them away before you have a chance to present your lure to them!
Stay Out After the Sun is Out
Although the best fishing tends to be right at dawn during the summer, you should still continue to fish even after the sun is out and it starts to warm up. This is because fish will change their behaviors and habits depending on the water temperature. What might not have worked before will suddenly start to work thanks to the passing of time and the sun’s bright rays. While this is not always the case, it doesn’t hurt to keep fishing relentlessly even after the sun comes out and it has completely warmed up for the day.
Be Prepared for New Challenges
Fishing in the early mornings comes with its own unique set of challenges. For example, it will usually still be dark out when you get to the water so you will want to ensure that you bring along a light source such as a headlamp or flashlight. The temperature will also be much lower during this time of the day, even during the warmer months of the year. To combat this, make sure you bring along warm clothing to stay comfortable such as the GoHuntVest (watch the video below).
The GoHuntVest is a heated vest that will keep your core body warm while you fish, but still, allow you full mobility and comfort while doing so. It can last you for over 12 hours on one charge, although you should only need it until the temperature starts to warm up. Either way, bring one along to stay comfortable during the early morning hours while fishing! You can pick your own up at
Fishing this early in the morning will have you battling the dark, cold, and sometimes other unforeseen challenges that you will not even think of. If you come a little prepared with the right planning and gear, however, you should not have any issues and can safely and comfortably catch more fish before anyone else even shows up to the water!
Final Thoughts
Fishing in the morning has many advantages, and will no doubt help you to catch more fish no matter what species you are after. If you follow a few of these simple tips and tricks, you will be able to confidently head out to your favorite fishing hole and experience the peace and quiet that early morning fishing can give you and the crazy fishing activity that usually accompanies it!